Missing of ornaments: Chief priest, staffer suspended for lapse

Alappuzha: Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to remove Melsaanthi (chief priest) Babu Namboodiri and suspend former administrative officer J Murukesan of Ambalappuzha Sreekrishnaswamy temple in connection with the disappearance  of sacred ornaments. The incident took place a day before Vishu festival in April. Prayar Gopalakrishnan  president, TDB, said action was taken after the vigilance wing of the TDB found serious lapses on their part in securing the ornament. ‘Murukesan got promoted after the incident and he is working as Assistant Secretary (Audit section).

As the Karaazhma(hereditary right) system is followed, the TDB has no right at present to suspend him. So we decided to give a letter to the senior priest of the family to replace Babu Namboodiri. For the time being, Suresh Namboodiri, Keezhsaanthi, has been given additional change, he said. The missing of the gold locket from the temple came to light on April 20. On April 19, some employees and devotees informed the temple advisory committee members and they approached the TDB.

The investigation team had questioned priests and officials at the temple. When the local police inched closer to the culprit, the case was handed over to Crime Branch which failed to make a breakthrough. The police suspected that the ornament went missing during one of the temple festival days from March 14 to 23 with the help of people who had direct access to the strong room and sanctum sanctorum.  When police tightened the screws on May 23, the missing gold ornaments of the temple were traced from the cash boxes.  However, the investigation team failed to arrest the culprit.  Following this, a section of devotees approached the high court.  The court sought a report on the probe from the police recently.